'Bluster' Is Word Of Year For 2012 Chosen By Dictionary.com

Most Americans are probably busy working, making Thanksgiving plans or strategizing for shopping after Thanksgiving. It may be safe to say looking for the word of the year, it's not on your list of things this week.

This is probably old news to word nerds, for those who aren't, here's a small diversion from the pending holiday drama.

Drum roll...Dictionary.com has announced its word of the year.

Here's the background information and the word: 2012 saw the most expensive political campaigns and some of the most extreme weather events in human history, from floods in Australia to cyclones in China to Hurricane Sandy and many others. Man-made disasters spiraled as the European Central Bank continued to hem and haw over bailouts and austerity, and Greeks went to the polls after years of uncertainty. Even after many spilled words, the stability of the Euro fuels debate around the world.

In Old English "bluster" meant "to wander or stray," and today it has a few, closely related meanings. It means both "to roar and be tumultuous, as wind" and "noisy, empty threats or protests; inflated talk." 2012 was full of bluster from the skies and from the mouths of pundits. As the US Congress faces the looming fiscal cliff, we can only anticipate more bluster from politicians. Hopefully, the bluster will only come from them, not from more nor'easters and early winter storms.